October 1, 2025
1. Fellow citizens of Etsako East Local Government Council,
2. I am deeply honoured to stand before you today, as we mark the 65th anniversary of our nation’s independence. As we celebrate this milestone, I am reminded of the trust you have placed in me as your acting chairman, and I commit to working tirelessly on your behalf for the benefit of our residents.
3. As we navigate the challenges facing our local government, I am confident that together, we can overcome them. Through our collaboration with the LGA, we will continue to share best practices, learn from each other, and support one another in our quest for excellence. This synergy is crucial in addressing the complex issues that affect our communities, and I am committed to fostering a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
4. As your acting chairman, I pledge to prioritize the security of lives and property, recognizing that this is the foundation upon which all other development efforts are built. We will work closely with security operatives to ensure that our communities remain safe and secure. This is a critical aspect of our mandate, and I am determined to ensure that we do everything in our power to protect our citizens.
5. We’ll continue to support our workaholic governor’s developmental strides across the 18 LGA in Edo State and canvass support for the SHINE AGENDA of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpehbolo, and RENEWED HOPE of our general superintendent, President Bola Ahmed Asiwaju Tinubu.
6. We’ll ensure that all the security equipment and materials provided by our indefatigable governor are being utilized by our local vigilantes and all our security personnel.
7. In like manners, we’ll implore the vision of our leader, former Governor Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, we will adopt a proactive approach to combating kidnapping, killings, and crime in our local government area. We will work tirelessly to secure our farmlands and ensure that our people can live and work without fear. This is a promise that I make to you today, and I am committed to seeing it through.
8. As we celebrate our nation’s independence, I urge all citizens to embrace peace and dialogue and to reject violence and hate speech. Let us work together to build a united, peaceful, and prosperous Etsako East Local Government Council. We must recognize that our diversity is our strength and that by working together, we can achieve great things.
9. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the large number of our Traditional, Religious, and Community leaders, as well as other well-meaning Etsako East sons and daughters, who are openly spreading the message of peaceful co-existence and conflict settlement through dialogue in their respective communities.
10. Etsako East is for all of us. Its unity is not negotiable. Its ultimate success can only be achieved if we all come together with a common goal of having peace and prosperity for our local government. We shall continue to work on dialogue-based solutions to address legitimate grievances. But we remain ready to take decisive actions against secessionist agitators and their sponsors who threaten our security.
11. We shall continue to serve the good people of Etsako East Local Government Council, listen to all, and protect our democracy and state. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our local government remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for all citizens.
12. Thank you, and may God bless the good people of Etsako East, Edo State, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Agbukor Lucky Apeakhuye,
Media Aide to Sunny Ekpetika on Politics and Strategic Development